Chevrolet Launches "Vocal" App that Aims to Curb Distracted Driving

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. -- Part of the initiative to promote safer and less distracted driving, Chevrolet is launching a new app called "Call Me Out" to help remind new and experienced drivers alike to put their phones down and keep their eyes on the road.

According to a recent surveyed performed by Research Now, 84% of people admit that driving while handling a phone is dangerous, and yet 90% of drivers say that they do it. Driven to encourage a change and the behavior and conversation, Chevy hosted a hackathon during which they challenged teams of young people to propose ways to combat distracted driving, and from that, the framework of Call Me Out was conceived.

The new app combines two powerful and influential forces: technology and our loved ones. Friends and family members of users have the ability to record a message through the app that will activate when the user tries to use their phone while driving, effectively "calling them out" and making them think twice about the potentially deadly consequences of taking their eyes off the road.

“As the father of two daughters, I am keenly aware of all the perils that my children face out in the world on a daily basis, and that is why it is so important for GM and Chevrolet to offer technologies that help all of us become safer drivers,” says Alan Batey, president of GM North America and head of Global Chevrolet. “With Call Me Out we are extending our commitment beyond the technologies integrated into GM and Chevy vehicles and are making the app available for Android phone users who drive other vehicle makes and models in an effort to help people change their driving behavior and make our roads safer.”

HOW IT WORKS

• Call Me Out uses the voices of the driver's loved ones to help them fight the urge to engage in risky distracted driving as if they were physically in the vehicle.

• Currently, the app is only available to Android phone users who can download it for free in the Google Play store.

• The app utilizes the vehicle's accelerometer and GPS to detect when the driver physically picks up their phone while traveling at speeds of more than 5 MPH, at which point it plays recorded, personalized messages from friends and family that remind them to put their phone down and concentrate on the road.

• The app also adds a little competition to help encourage drivers to stay safe on the road, featuring a scoreboard and rankings, and keeping score of how much the user handles their phone. The less they do, the higher their score and rank on the leaderboard.

“Today’s vehicles offer a range of active safety features like Lane Keep Assist and Forward Automatic Braking that help drivers stay more aware of their surroundings,” says Tricia Morrow, Chevy safety engineer. 

“But we also know the vehicle is only one element. Chevy’s Call Me Out app gives drivers another great tool to reinforce good driving behaviors — and as a mom of a teenage daughter, I personally know how important it is to model good driving behaviors and encourage others to do the same.”

Drivers must be 18 years or older and have a compatible device and data plan to use Call Me Out.

At Hank Graff Mt. Pleasant we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.